Sensor for Detecting Arcing Faults

• US 20090193901A1
• Filed: 02/13/2009
• Published: 08/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kim R. Fowler, Land H. Bruce III
• Original Assignee: Kim R. Fowler, Land H. Bruce III
• Inventors: Land, H. Bruce III, Fowler, Kim R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,806,000 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/705
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 1/0023 sensing non electrical parameters, e.g. by optical, pneumatic, thermal or sonic sensors

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a sensor for detecting arcing faults, the sensor combining a photodetector, a pressure detector, and an accelerometer along with integrated circuitry. The circuitry controls each detector, operates the self-test circuitry, conditions the signals from the detectors, and communicates with the external network. The circuitry receives commands from the network and transmits the output decision from the sensor.

Claims

1. :

A pressure sensor comprising;

a pressure-activated switch,

a filter connected to said pressure-activated switch,

a microcontroller connected to said filter,

a differential transceiver connected to said microcontroller and providing communication signals outside of said pressure sensor.

2. The pressure sensor of claim 1, wherein said microcontroller is a DSP.

3. The pressure sensor of claim 1, wherein said microcontroller is a FPGA.

4. The pressure sensor of claim 1, wherein said microcontroller is a ASIC.

5. :

A pressure sensor comprising;

a pressure-activated strain gauge,

a difference amplifier connected to said pressure-activated strain gauge,

a filter connected to said differential amplifier,

an analog-to-digital converter connected to said filter,

a microcontroller having an input and at least two outputs, connected at said microcontroller input to said analog-to-digital converter, connected at one output to said pressure-activated strain gauge, and providing signals to the outside of said pressure sensor;

a pressure pump connected to said microcontroller.

6. The pressure sensor in claim 5, in which said microcontroller is a DSP.

7. The pressure sensor in claim 6, in which said microcontroller is a FPGA.

8. The pressure sensor in claim 6, in which said microcontroller is a ASIC.

9. A sensor module for detecting arcing faults, said sensor module comprising:

a photodetector,

a pressure detector,

an accelerometer,

processing circuitry connected to each of said photodetector, said pressure detector and said accelerometer, and

wherein said photodetector, said pressure detector, said accelerometer and said processing circuitry are mounted to a single substrate.

10. The sensor module of claim 9, wherein said processing circuitry comprises:

photodetection circuitry comprising an amplifier connected to a threshold comparator,

accelerometer processing circuitry comprising a difference amplifier connected to a filter and an analog-to-digital converter connected to said filter, and

pressure detection processing circuitry comprising a difference amplifier connected to a filter and a analog-to-digital converter connected to said filter,

wherein each of said photodetection circuitry threshold comparator, said accelerometer processing circuitry analog-to-digital converter, and said pressure detection processing circuitry analog-to-digital converter are connected to a microcontroller.

11. The sensor module of claim 10, wherein said microcontroller is a DSP.

12. The sensor module of claim 10, wherein said microcontroller is a FPGA.

13. The sensor module of claim 10, wherein said microcontroller is a ASIC.

14. A sensor for detecting arcing faults, said sensor comprising:

a plurality of photodetectors,

a plurality of pressure detectors,

a plurality of accelerometers,

processing circuitry connected to each of said photodetector, said pressure detector and said accelerometer.

15. The sensor of claim 14, wherein said microcontroller is a DSP.

16. The sensor of claim 14, wherein said microcontroller is a FPGA.

17. The sensor of claim 14, wherein said microcontroller is a ASIC.